The Golden Goggle Awards are USA Swimming’s yearly awards gala, and they’ll happen tonight in New York City. You can follow along on the USA Swimming website, which will livestream the event. Follow the link here.

Abby Kochevar (Rock Canyon High School), the two-time defending Colorado 5A Champ in the 100y backstroke, has committed to the University of Wisconsin. She won the event with a time of 54.17 last year, which would have been Wisconsin’s 2nd-fastest 100 backstroke time to only Annie Tamblyn.

Tamblyn is a senior, so Kochevar (along with other incoming 54-second 100 backstroker Hannah Lindsey) couldn’t be coming to Madison at a better time. Actually, it’s a pretty great time to be in Madison. While they recently graduated Ivy Martin, who split an unbelievable 20.9 at the B1G Champs last season, head coach Whitney Hite is building up an incredibly deep roster for the next few years.

Last season, distance freestyler Danielle Valley transferred from Florida, and she made B1G B finals in two events and scored an 8th place finish in the mile. As if that wasn’t a big enough boost to a previously-thin distance group, former 500 free NCAA record holder Cierra Runge will join up with the Badgers after the Olympic year, and they got a transfer from Purdue that will further advance the distance free group in Abby Jagdfeld, who is also a sub-50 100 freestyler. In other words, Wisconsin is going to be very dangerous, very soon.

Kochevar is a pure backstroker, something that the Badgers really need more of. She’s also very solid in sprint free, and Wisco was sprint central in the Big Ten last year after winning both free relays AND medley relays.

Kochevar’s Top Times

50 free – 23.15

100 free – 51.80

100 back – 54.17

200 back – 2:01.26

In addition, Kochevar also holds an Olympic Trials cut in the 100m back after her swim of 1:03.13 at the Woodlands Swim Team Senior Invitational this past June.

“I have met a lot of great people through the recruiting process, but felt like Wisconsin was home. The team, coaching staff and academics are amazing and I can’t wait to be a Badger!”

Kochevar is a part of a very talented class of 2020 for Wisconsin. In addition to the aforementioned Lindsey, she joins 53-second butterflier Megan Doty and Carmel Swim Club sprinter Kendall Smith.